Pope Francis beatifies ‘smiling’ former pope John Paul I
- Former pope John Paul I was the shortest-serving pontiff in modern church history, serving for just 33 days in 1978 before he died of a heart attack
- Beatification typically occurs before canonisation and becoming a saint
Thousands of people gathered in St Peter’s Square on Sunday as Pope Francis presided over the beatification of John Paul I, the so-called “Smiling Pope” who led the Catholic Church for just 33 days before dying in contested circumstances.
John Paul I, the son of a bricklayer from the Dolomite mountains and a particularly warm and pastoral figure, was elected pope on August 26, 1978, at the age of 65.
He died just 33 days later, on September 28, 1978, of a heart attack, making him the shortest serving pontiff in modern church history.
A crowd of several thousand including Italian President Sergio Mattarella gathered under umbrellas through a thunderstorm to listen to the beatification mass – a step before canonisation and becoming a “saint”.
“With a smile, Pope John Paul managed to communicate the goodness of the Lord,” said Pope Francis during Sunday’s mass.
“How beautiful is a Church with a happy, serene and smiling face, that never closes doors, never hardens hearts, never complains or harbours resentment, does not grow angry or impatient, does not look dour or suffer nostalgia for the past.”
A wall hanging representing the late pope was hung on the front of St Peter’s basilica.
